Pin-setting mechanism for bowling alleys



May 11,1926. 1,584,030

. W. H. GRAY PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed June 4, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INA/[N roe HTTOEIYEX May 11 1926.

1,584,030 w. H. GRAY PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed June 4, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M Arrow/[r May 11 1926. 1,584,030

- I W. H. GRAY PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed June 4, 1924 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 27 Z f L 26' 0 Zf 1 77' TOR/YE May 11 1926.

W. H. GRAY PIN SETTING MECHANISM FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Filed June 4, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amen-w: 11. 1926. 1,584,030

m) STATES-PATENTOFFICE.

wan rnn a. an or pavnnronr, row-a. "rm-sn'rrma ion nownmd mints.

Application fledlune 4. 1924. 'Serlal no. 711.9. I

My invention pertains to a pin-setting I Figs. 5 and 6 show one of the frame lockmechanism for bowling-alleys, and has for 111g devices, in locking and-released posiit's purpose to automatical'l place-in position Hons, respectively. r

"the set of pins whichis to e used in playing F1gs. 7 and 8 are details, in section, of the 6 the game. It is more specially designed for pin grappling mechanism. 60. use with machines whose function! it is to Figs. 9 and 10 are details, in section, of the removethe pins from the end. of the alley, pm'receiv ing and setting devices. after having been used, and elevate-them to Fig; 11 is'a plan view of the plate 67, de'

a point for delivery to a pin-setting machine, .tached. I 1 I 10 such as is set forth in my former application 1 Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged details of the for Letters Patent ef theUnited Statesfiled pin spotting and steadying devices... v January 2 1, 1924, Serial No. 688,316. .It is S1m1lar' parts are indicated b correspond.- I also designed to use-the same with automatic- ,ing reference numbers'throug out the sevball'return mechanism, and pin sweeping deeral figures. vices, such as are known in the art.- Referring first to Hi 1, the reference The chief purpose of'the device is to pro number 1 indicates the cor line, and 2'one; vide a pair of spaced-apart setting frames. of the alley partitions, upon which is en which will convey a set of pins to a desired porteda frame-work,cbmprised of stander s distance from the floor of alley, and deliver 3, 4, and 5, atthe' upper ends of which is a 2 the same upon-their several spots, the release plate 6, WhlGh in some cases might constitute of the pins from the frames, and proper the ceiling of the room. Said standards are s otting thereof being accomplished by a 'unitedby braces-7. It willbe understood ciiange in the" spacing of theiframes. that'the frame-work just described willbe- 1 Another purpose thersof is the provision duplicated on the next adjacent partition, 25 'of auxiliary mechanism, by means of which and that the invention is installed between 1 e the pins which remain standing, if any, after said sets of frame-work, above the end of the the first ball' has been. rolled, may be temalley- Supported from the plates"6 are ,porarily removed, while the dead wood is hangers 8, in which is rotatabl mounted-a I being swept from the alley,' a'n d then -re-. shaft 8, upon which is fixe a pair of I placed ontheir proper spots', ready for the rocket-wheels 9, over which pass sprocket-3 next ball. c ains 10; said chains also passing over I Another object thereof is the rovision of sprocket-wheels 11 on a shaft 12, rotatably means forsteadying the pins, w en they are supported in the supports 4. The rear ends positioned onthealley, which will prevent of said chains are connectedby rods 13 with their toppling over after the remova of .the a frame 14, provided with pin openin .15, 00 frames therefrom. (Fig-.2)- and the forwardends of saidc ains Another feature thereof is the provision of have .wei hts 16 attached thereto. mechanical structures, by the use of which Beneat the frame 14 is supported a'fra'xfitithe various movements of the machine may 23,- of similar shape and 'size, and provided be controlled, and the, frames lowered to a with pin openings coinciding in position-with greater or less distance from the floor of. the I those in' the frame 14 Said lower frame is L alley, as desired. I suspended-by means of'rods24, slidablein' The particular construction, arrangement, I openings in the frame14, and provided with 45 device will more fully appearinthe followment of thefram e 23, withielationtb the ing specification taken in connection with frame 14, and'd'etei'mines the normal spacing theaccdmpanyingjrawings, in which: of said'fral'nes. Y I I Fig. .1 sh0ws the machine in side elevation; Attached toIthegip r ends of the rods 24 r 4 r0 Fig. 2isahor1zontalsection on the broken .are smaller "rods; I- passing upwardly lin'e 2.-2 of Fig. 1. y through openings incross-plates28 support-' 9 Fig. 3 is a detail, of a part of the driving ed on the, races 7 The ro'ds 24are 'pref ere mechanism, in sideelevations j 'fably three in number, one thereof being pro- 5 Fig.4/is a detail of the shift-mechanism vided near each corner of the triangular i for operatingfldevices, tostart or stop the: franies, and the rods i27 .are similarly .dis-

and Operation ar s Parts f the c01lars'25, which limit the downwardmovesame. I I I s posed, one of said rods beinginthecenter 34 fixed on the near the front of the machine, and the other two spaced apart, and further to the rear. Each of the rods 27 is provided at its upper end with'a button 29, which buttons come in contact with the cross-plates 28, and arrest the movement of the lower frame 23, within a desired distance from the floor ofthe alley.

The frame 14, which is assumed to be loaded large end downwardly, as indicated at 30 in Fig. 9. The downward movement of the pin is arrested, however, by means of arms 31, pivoted to the frame 14 at the sides of openin and provided attheir lower ends with In 32 which are normally in engagement with, Projections. 33 on supports rame 23. As the frame 23 stops and the frame 14 continues to move downwardly, the lugs 32'slip past the projections 33, permittin the arms 31 to swing outwardly, and releasing the pin, which drops downwardly to the door. As the frames 14 and 23 are moved upwardly again the. upper frames precedes 'the,lower one until such frames regain their normal Spacing, the upper inclinededges of the lugs 32 causing them to move automatically inward, returning thearms 31 to a position for in terrupting the pin. While the arms 31 are shown as being diametrically opposed to one another, they are preferably three in number, and spaced soas to permit of the installationof a pair of pin grappling devices hereinafter set forth.

As the pins 30 drop downwardly they pass through openings 35 in the frame 23, at the sides of which are swingingly mounted spottingdev'ices 36,.by means of'arms 37, pivotally attachedto the lower face of the frame. The downward movement of said arms is limited by stops 38 fixed to the frame 23, and permitting the s otters to swingoutwardly so as to permit free passage of the pin, as shownin Fi 9. Fixed to each of said spotters is a res1lient plate 39, adapted ,for engagement by the lower ends of rods 40, fixed to the frame 14, and vertically movable in openings in the frame 23. Asthe spacing between the frames is reduced the rods 40 come in contact with the plates 39, operating to swing the spotters inwardly,

' adjusting the position of the pin, if. it is not squarely in place on its proper spot,- until-it is so positioned. As'the frames are elevated again, the upward movement of the frame 14,, preceding that of the frame 23,

releases the rods 40 fromengagement with the Slates 39, and the spotters swing outwar ly away from the pin 30.

--The spotters 36 also are shown as beingdiametrically. opposed, but three of such devices are also' made use of, preferably stationed just .below'the arms 31. The inner faces of said spotters are also recessed to conform to the shape of the pin 30, as shown in broken lines in Figs. 12 and 13.

Supported in rear of the pin-setting mechanism is'a frame-work 42, from which depends a hanger 43, in which is journaled a shaft 44, on which is fixed a, sprocket-- wheel 45, connected by a sprocket-chain 46 with a similar wheel 47 fixedon shaft-48. rotatably mounted in a hanger 49. (Fig. 1.) On the inner face of the chain 46 is. fixed a pin 50, slidable in a slot 51 in one-end of ,a bar 52, the other end of which is pivoted to the inner face of one ofthe chains 10.

The pin 5Q is held normally in the rear and parts associated therewith,.including the opposite chain 10 and, chain 20, serving to lower the pin-settingframes and their oad to the desired point near the floor, and return said frames totheir elevated position,

ready to be filled again.

g It frequently occurs that only a part of the' bowling pins are upset upon the delivery of" the first-ball, but it is desired to sweep the same from the alley before another shot is fired, by mechanical or other means. I

make it-possible to do this by providing auxiliary devices, also carried by the frames.

14 and 23, and actuated thereby, which grapple the necks of any pin -or pins left standing upon the alley, and raise them to a sufiicient: height to permit the alley .to be swept of the dead-wood. Inthis operationit is desired that the frames stop at a greater distance from the floor than when the pins are being set, and this is accomplished with the frame 23 by arresting the downward movement of the rods 27 at a greater height from the floor than has been hereinbefore described" therefor. The movement of the rear pair of rods 27 is interrupted by means of a. frame 54, rockingly mounted on the cross-plate 28, and carrying catches 55,

adapted to be .bmu ht into the path 'ofthe heads 29 on said no s,'and support the same. On the forward plate '28 is rockingly mounted on arm 57, carrying a catch-58 for engagement'withthe buttonon the end of the ad acent rod 27. Fixed to the frame-work 6 above the forward cross-plate 28 is a to which is secured, anarm 62. Connected with. said arm is an operators rod 59 extending lengthwise'of the machine, and said hanger 60, in which is supported a shaft 61, f

arm is also connected by a link 63 with ai rod 64 attached to the arm 57. By shifting the rod 59 the arm 57 is rocked tobrin the catch'58 into operative position. The rame. 54 is simultaneously rocked by means of a into engagingposition.

Supported on. cross-pieces on the frame 23, on opposite sides of the openings 35, are

76, on which 18 fixed a sprocket-wheel 77.

plates 66, to .Which-arc hinged plates67,

having recesses 68 in their ends, and provided with slots 69 in which travel pins '70,'

fixed to the lower face of the frame 14. The lower ends of said pins are headed, so as to prevent the release of the pins from the slots. The ends of the plates 66- are also recessed, so as to permit the passage of the The catches and 58 are then thrown out pins 30 downwardly therethrough. 'When the frames 14 and 23 are at their normal spacing the plates 67 are held in an inclined position by the pins 70, as shown in Fig. '8,

but upon such space beingreduced, as shown 1n.F1g. 7, the inner ends of the plates move downwardly, as shown .in said last-named figure, and if a pin is in the opening 35 the plates 67 partially encircle the same, so that upon the frames being raised such plates- 1 will engage the head of the pin, and raise it from the floor. To hold the frames during this operation in the spaced position shown in Fig. 7 catches 71 are pivoted to the frames 14, and adaptedfor'engagement with pins 72 on the frame 14, in wh1ch position they are held by springs 73.. The lower .ends of the latches 71 are provided with 7 arms 74, carrying rollers 7 5 which come in contact with the fipor when the. frames are lowered to a position for setting the P1118,

and prevent the latches from engaging the pins 72. 1.

After the frames are lowered to a distance to permit of the plates-67 grappling the heads of the bowling pins, and the frames have been elevated to their normal position the alley beneath such pins can be swept.

of engaging position and the frames again lowered, this time to setting position, and the pins replaced on the alley in their prop er positions. The rollers 75 come in contactwith the floor, releasing the latches 71, and the frame 14 moves upwardly in ad Vance of the frame 23. The 'fran'ie 14 is then supplied with a fresh set of pins, ready for lowerin to the floor.

It is essential that when the movement of the frame 23 .is arrested at'such a height from the floor as will permit of the grappling of the ins by the plates 67, the movement of the lame 14 should be proportionately reduced, andthis is accomplished by preferably done in connection witlrshifting devices hereinafter set forth.

In the pin-setting operation at the same time as .the spotter 36 close in u imnthc-p'ime 30, the plates 67 are lowered until they rest cn the shoulders ofthepins, as shown in connected by a chain 77 with a sprocket:

movement of thefshaft 'lli'inay be applied to tlleshaft 44 in an intermitten n'iannen.

Fixed on the shaft 44 is a gear-wheel '81, having a blank space 82, which is normally in position at the lower side of the wheel. so as to permit the free rotation therein of a gear-pinion 83. livot-e'd to ithe face of the wheel 81-isa .trip-arn'i 84, supported in a normally elevated postion by/a lug 85 on a 1 lever-86, fulcrumed to the frame" as at 1'.

By movementof said lever outwardly the arm 84 is released, permitting it to drop downwardly intothe path'of a dog 87, fixed i to the pinion 83'. Thennovement of the arm I 845s limited by a pin 88, fixed in the wheel 81, and the engagement oflthe dog with said arm gives an initial movement to the wheel 81, causing some of the teeth thereonto engage with the" teeth of the pinion 83, cans ing a rotation of the shaft 44 and wheel 45 thereon. This causes the movement of the chain 46 hereinbefore referred. to for lower ing the pin-setting frames and raising them again, the lever 86 being returned to its position to interrupt the movement of the wheel 81' when. the chain has completed its cycle. The proportionatecircumference of the wheel and length of. the chain is such that when the pin 50 is returned to a loclt ing position with the latch 53 the blank 82 will be at the'point to cause a disengage ment of such wheel with the pinion 83.

The shift-bar 59 is also connected with the will lever 86, so that upon said bar being oper ated' to rock the arms 54 and 57 the same movement will release the trip-arm 84 and set the mechanism in operation. The corn ne'ction o fsaid bar and lever is by-means of a slot 90 in the bar 59 and pin 91 in the lever- 86, so ?that the lever can be actuated independently ofsaid arm. The movement of the bar 59 can also be imparted to the latch 53 to raise the same, by means of-a bell-crank lever 9.2, fulcrumed on the frame, connected withthe'bar 59 atone end and is a loose connection, so that-the latch is free ice p with the latch 53 atth e' other. This latter 0 to travel with the bar 52 to which it is attached. Upon being released the pin 50 travels rearwardly with the chain 46, and upon its return to its former position is automatically engaged with the latch once more.

It will be understood that in the operation of the machine for purely pin-setting purposes after the pins are deli'veredto the frame 14, the frames are lowered to a point ,near'the alley, the pins released, and the framesreturned to their former positions.

- Inthis'operation all that is" necessary is to operate the lever 86. When it is desired to sweep the alley, however, and there are pins standing thereon, the shift-car 59 is actuated, rocking the catches 55 and-58 into engaging positions with the rods 27, and raising the latch 53.

which is in continuous o'perati0n,.is imparted to the shaft 44, upon which the movement of the chain 46causes a lowering of the frames 14 and 23 to a point where the standing pins are grappled and raised from the floor. This is accomplished when the chain 46 has com- 'pleted its cycle and the pin 50nis again engaged by the latch 53. Thealley is then swept,'aud the lever 86 alone operated, which results in the frames being again lowered,

this'time .to the floor, l e-setting the pins wh1cl1were temporarily elevated. The

frames are then h returned to their filling position again.

The shift-bars 59 and 89 may be extended.

to. the forward end of the alley, so 'that*the player canoperate the various mechanisms, without being dependent upon assistants. In. this arrangement the pin-sweeping and pin elevating devices would also have to be under his control.

What I claim as ;my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

.1. A pin setting device; comprising a pair of spaced frames, pin arresting mechanism carried by said frames; pin-spotting device's,

carried on the lower face of the lower of said frames; and means for lowering said frames to within a predetermined distance from the floor of a bowling alley; the spacing of said framesfbeing"automatically reducedat the end of the downward movement causing the release of. said pin-arresting mechanism, and subsequent operation of the pin-spotting devices. I 2. A pin setting of spaced frames, pin-arresting'mechanism carried bysaid frames; pin-spottingdevioes 1,

carried by -the lower frame; operating mechanism for carrymg said frames-downwardly to a point nearthe' fioor of a bowl- The same movement shifts the. .lcver-86, and the'movement'of the shaft 76,

device, comprising a pair ing alley and back to their original position,

the approach of said frames to' the floor opcrating to compress-the same, so as to release said pin-arresting mechamsm, and set said .pm-spottmg dBVlCQSX and means. for intermechanism at the end of the ment of said frames.

3. A pin setting device, comprising a pair of spaced frames, and provided with councycle' of move- .terbalancing means; pin-arresting mechanism carriedby said frames; pin spotting devices carried by the lower of said frames; pin grappling devices carried by said frames; .means for selective movement of said frames to either a. pin setting position or a pin grappling position, said pin-arrestruptingthe movement of said operating,

mg mechanism, pln spotting devices, and

pin grappling devicesall being automatically operated by the reduced spacing of said frames; and means forlocking said frames together in their reduced spacing, said locking means being automatically releasable upon the approach of said frames to a pinsetting position.

14. In a pin-setting device, a pair of frames having suitable pin openings, and in spaced relation with each other; pin grappling devices carried by said frames, normally out of engaging positions, f and adapted to be brought; into operative positions by a reduction in the spacing of said frames; and

pin spotting'devices carried by the lower frame, said "grappling devices assisting. in steadying the pins that are being positioned by said spotting devices. I

5. In a pinsetting device, formed ofa pair of spaced frames having suitable .pln openings, pin-spotting devices hinged to the lower face of the lower-frame at thesides of" said openings, and operating members with said setting arms; upon the spacing.

between'said frames being reduced, to move pin being positioned-thereby; In testimony whereof I a x my signature;

ftVALTER-H'. ,GBAYJ,

its

said spotting devices in the directionof the 

